Assembly for installing prefabricated wall panels



Nov. 26, 1968 P. M. P. FINON 3,4

ASSEMBLY FOR INSTALLING PREFABRICATED WALL PANELS Filed Nov. 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Pmwm w Nov. 26, 1968 P. M. P. FINON 3,412,515

ASSEMBLY FOR INSTALLING PREFABRICATED WALL PANELS Filed Nov. 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I. M: Fm mm M 42;

Nov. 26, 1968 P. M. P. FINON 3,412,515

ASSEMBLY FOR INSTALLING PREFABRICATED WALL PANELS Filed Nov. 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet .5

United States Patent Ofice 60,676 4 Claims. (Cl. 52-480) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An assembly for installing prefabricated wall panels having opposed marginal grooves, said assembly including elongated base elements having a U-shaped section terminating in lateral flanges spaced above a web attached to base surface which the prefabricated panels will cover, junction elements overlying and secured to the base element flanges transversely of the longitudinal axis of the base elements, the junction elements having opposed reversely bent, resilient wings cooperating in pairs to receive opposed grooved edges of the prefabricated panels, and a panel anchor element suspended from the base elements and providing a lower support edge to support the lower edge of the prefabricated panels thereof.

There exist at the present time numerous devices for wall coverings which utilize panels of all kinds. However, the systems employed for the assembly and fixing of these panels generally have the disadvantage that they do not permit variations of dimensions of the panels, and these variations may be the cause of buckling of the covering surface. In addition, the fixing of the panels in position often necessitates the use of specialist workmanship.

The present invention relates to a unit for the assembly and fixing of pre-fabricated coverings which permit variations of the dimensions of the constituent elements of these coverings, irrespective of their application, either on vertical or oblique walls such as main walls, partitions, pillars, etc., or on horizontal surfaces such as ceilings, floors, flooring, etc. In addition, the application of the invention does not necessitate the use of specialist skilled workmanship.

According to the invention, the device for assembling or joining covering panels is essentially constituted by an element made of an appropriate material comprising a supporting base intended to bear directly or indirectly on the surface to be covered and rigidly fixed on this supporting base, two wings arranged in such manner as to be able to move apart or come closer together while remaining fixed to the supporting base, and each in engagement with one of the covering panels.

According to one advantageous form of construction, the covering panels, which are generally of rectangular form, are provided on at least two of their opposite edges with a groove intended to receive one of the wings of the coupling element.

The wings of the coupling or junction element are advantageously made of a material having a certain elasticity.

The junction element in question can be fixed by any appropriate means, directly by its supporting base, on the surface to be covered.

According to an alternative form, the said element is fixed to an intermediate element so called primary element, which is fixed by any appropriate means on the surface to be covered, which permits the insertion, between the covering elements and the wall to be covered, of insu- 3,412,515 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 lating. materials, the passage of any piping systems and,

also the correction of irregularities resulting from the surface of a wall not being absolutely flat.

In the case of this alternative, the invention provides a unit such that the variations in dimensions are not only absorbed by the junction elements themselves, but also by their system of mounting on the primary elements.

To this end, the invention provides for the construction of the primary elements in such manner that they have a profile which permits a possible sliding movement of the junction elements which are fixed to them.

The junction elements are preferably fixed to the primary elements through the intermediary of coupling elements so called spring clips.

According to one possible form of construction, the coupling elements form an integral part of the junction elements.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the coupling elements are constituted by separate elements having a form such that they can ensure the coupling between the primary element and the junction element and the possibility of sliding of the junction element along the primary element.

Other characteristic features and advantages of the invention will be brought out more clearly from the description which follows below, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a panel to be assembled by means of the unit according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of one possible form of construction of a junction element of the unit according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of an advantageous form of construction of a primary element intended to co-operate with the junction element of the unit according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a View in perspective of a possible coupling element;

FIG. 4a is a profile view corresponding to FIG. 4;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate in perspective the assembly of the above elements, and

FIGS. 7 and 8 represent an accessory element and its application in the assembly according to the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a covering panel 1, generally of rectangular shape and which may be made of wood, plastic, wood fibre, agglomerated particles, plywood, asbestos-cement, etc., having a rough or treated surface. According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, this panel is provided on at least two of its opposite edges with a groove 2 intended to co-operate with the junction element (shown in FIG. 2), as will be explained later.

Referring now to FIG. 2, which shows an advantageous form of construction, the junction element according to the invention is constituted by an element of metal or any other appropriate material, of variable length, comprising a so-called supporting base 3 intended to be applied directly on the surface to be covered or on an intermediate element, and two flexible Wings 4.

In the form of construction shown, these two wings are produced by turning back the edges of the supporting base 3. It will readily be understood that these wings may be obtained in a different way, the only condition being that they have .a certain elasticity and that they are sufficiently distant from each other to form an optimum space between the panels with which they are required to engage, in order to be capable of taking-up their possible variations in size. According to the invention, and following the form of construction shown, these wings are intended to fit into the grooves 2 of the covering elements shown in FIG. 1.

By virtue of this junction element and the grooves 2 formed on the opposite edges of the covering elements 1, the fixing of these latter in position is very simple. It is only necessary to fix the junction element indicated by the general refcrece on the wall to be conveyed, by any appropriate means such as nails, screws, etc., passing through the supporting base between the two wings 4. A covering element is then placed in position by introducing one of the wings 4 into one of the grooves 2 of that element, and then a second covering element is placed so that its groove fits over the other wing 4 of the junction element. The wing 4 of a second junction element is then inserted into the opposite groove of the last covering element and the junction element is fixed on the wall to be covered in the same Way as the previous element, and

so on.

As in the case of FIG. 5, which will be explained below, it can thus be seen that the covering assembly applied in accordance with the invention is made up of a succession of rectangular panels 1 juxtaposed by their grooved sides and held in position side by side with a slight space 6. In addition, this assembly can be completed by mouldings, skirting boards, angle mouldings, etc.

When the wall to be covered is not entirely flat, or when it is desired to leave a space permitting the interposition of insulating materials or the passage of any pipings or conduits between the covering elements and the wall to be covered, the invention provides for the fixing of the junction elements on intermediate members so called primary elements, which may be, for example, of the same type as that shown in FIG. 3. This primary element, indicated by the general reference 7 and given solely by way of illustration, consists of an element of variable length having a U-shaped section with lateral, coplanar wings 7a, 7b.

In order to fix the junction element 5 on the primary element 7 (these two elements being generally mounted at right angles to each other), the invention advantageously provides elastic coupling members, previously formed on the elements 5 or independently, the essential characteristic of these coupling members being that they permit the sliding movement of the junction element 5 along the primary element 7, which permits easy mounting on the one hand and on the other hand assists, in association with the wings 4 of the junction elements, in absorbing the dimensional variations of the covering elements 1.

An independent coupling member of this kind has been shown by way of illustration and without any limitation in FIG. 4. This member is constituted by a thin rectangular plate 8 bent at its extremities so as to form two lugs 9 and 9a which constitute a spring. In its central portion, it is further provided with a raised lug .10. The spring lugs 9 and 9a are intended to co-operate with the arms 7a and 7b of the element 7 and the lug 10 together with the lower lugs 10a and 10b co-operate with the supporting base 3 of the junction element 5.

As before, the placing of the covering panels in position is extremely simple, in this respect, reference will be made to FIGS. 5 and 6.

On the wall P to be covered, there are fixed by any appropriate means (nails, screws, etc.), two or more primary elements such as 7, depending on the dimensions and the nature of the wall to be covered and of the covering material. On these parallel elements, and preferably at right angles to these latter, there are fixed, by means of coupling clips 8, two junction elements 5 at a distance from each other greater than the width of the panel 1 to be fixed. This panel is placed in position by introducing the wing 4 of the first junction element into one of the edge grooves 2, after which the assembly of the clip and the second junction element 5 is caused to slide along the arms 7a and 7b of the elements 7, in order that one of its wings 4 may be introduced into the other edge groove, and so on.

When the covering elements are arranged vertically,

the assembly and fixing device is preferably completed by a supporting member illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

This element is constituted by a plate 11 comprising a turned back portion 11:: enabling it to be hooked onto one of the wings 7a of the primary element 7, which is the lowest situated on the wall to be covered, and a turned back portion 11b enabling the covering element to be supported.

As in the previous cases, the covering assembly applied in accordance with the invention can absorb variations in dimensions in the direction of the width of the panels, which variations, in the case of the form of construction which has just been described, are absorbed at the same time by the flexibility of the joint between two panels, the wings 4 being able to move closer together or further apart, and by the possibility of sliding the junction elements along the primary elements 7 which form rails. As already indicated, this mounting provides for the placing of insulating materials between the wall P and the panels 1, and also the passage of any pipe or conduits, depending on the size of the primary elements 7.

It will furthermore be understood that the present invention has been described purely by way of explanation and not in any limitative sense, and that any useful modification may be made thereto without departing from its scope.

I claim:

1. In an assembly for mounting prefabricated panels on a support surface comprising in combination:

a support surface;

elongated primary elements having a U-shaped section including laterally extending, coplanar flanges, said U-shaped section being connected to said support surface with the flanges being in spaced relation from said support surface;

elongated junction elements comprising a base portion and overlying, spaced, reversely-directed, substantially resilient, wing portions spaced above said base portion;

coupling means slidably and detachably connecting said junction elements in overlying relation on said primary elements with the base portion of said junction elements engaging said flanges and extending transversely thereof; and

a cover panel having outwardly opening grooves in at least two opposed edges, said cover panel being removably mounted between a pair of said junction elements with the respective wing portions of said junction elements engaged in said grooves of the respective opposed edges of said cover panel.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1, in which said coupling means comprises a thin plate having terminal spring lugs, said plate extending transversely of said primary elements in the direction which said junction elements extend, said terminal spring lugs engaging edge portions of said coplanar flanges, said plate including a laterally extending lug disposed above said plate, said laterally extending lug overlying and engaging a side edge portion of the base portion of an adjacent junction element.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 1, including a supporting member having a reversely-directed hook portion at one edge engaging the edge of one flange of a primary element and suspended therefrom, said supporting member including a lower, laterally extending ledge extending therefrom in a direction opposite that which said hook portion extends and receiving and supporting an edge of said cover panel thereon.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 3, in which said coupling means comprises a thin plate having terminal spring lugs, said plate extending transversely of said primary elements in the direction'said junction elements extend, said terminal spring lugs engaging edge portions of said coplanar flanges, said plate including a laterally extending lug disposed above said plate, said laterally extending lug overlying and engaging a side edge portion of the base portion of an adjacent junction element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 2,469,252 5/1949 Wiegert et a1. 52-489 3,159,944 12/1964 Deming 52--488 X 3,289,372 12/1966 Adams et a1. 52665 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,104,493 6/1955 France.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

ALFRED C. PERHAM, Assistant Examiner. 

